A group consisting of Nigerian Customs Service officials from the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, alongside soldiers, successfully intercepted a boat loaded with smuggled rice and vehicles along the waterside in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
However, the interception took a violent turn when the smugglers launched an attack on the members of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Army. The Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Theophilus Duniya, revealed this unsettling development in a statement released on Tuesday, June 4.
According to the statement, “A joint patrol team comprising FOU A personnel and some soldiers intercepted a boat carrying smuggled rice and vehicles by the waterside in Badagry, Lagos State. While evacuating the goods, a group of men, led by an individual armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the team, injuring Customs Officers and a Soldier.
In response to the threat, the personnel acted in self-defence, neutralizing the leader of the gang to prevent further harm to themselves. The injured assailant was promptly evacuated for urgent medical attention.
The Comptroller of FOU A, Kola Oladeji, extended his commendation to both the Army and Customs personnel for their courageous and professional response in the face of such a perilous attack.
Victoria Ibiama
